Even though it is winter time and the vines on the building do not have leaves on them and it is a cloudy day this project still looks beautiful. This building in Birmingham Michigan is great at its worst. Victor Saroki and Associates designed this building for Mosher Dolan Cataldo and Kelly. It is a combination of variegated gray and buff limestone on the front portion and brick on the larger piece.

Albaugh Masonry Stone and Tile Inc. installed all the limestone on this project including the concrete curbing in the rear of the building.

This brick and stone wall designed by Michael J. Dul and associates is a great combination of two timeless materials. The brick and stone accentuate each other on this functional retaining wall. The wall allows the development it sits on to be well utilized while the sculpture wall holds back what would normally be an unusable slope of a grade. The stepped out stone pillars work well with the soft light of the gas lanterns. Keep an eye out for the summer photos that will show the trellis alive with the blooms and greenery.

The wall was built by Albaugh Masonry Stone and Tile Inc. The accents are actually cast stone by Royal Cast. Patrick Funke was the landscape architect from Michael J. Dul and Associates.

This may look like just a very nice raised patio that has some nice stone work and a nice railing. However it is much more than that. It is a patio that was originally a very unusable part of the owners yard. It also has a storage room underneath. John Lyndsay Mayer the landscape architect designed this contemporary terrace with switch back steps that lead to another patio at ground level.

First this required a large amount of excavation. Then it required the foundations to be installed. Then the room was built with concrete blocks after which a steel deck was installed for concrete to be poured over the top. After that the stone work started. The paving stone was put on pedestals which means the paving is level yet the water flows through the joints to a sloped concrete pad underneath then down a hidden drain. This was not easy as it had to work around the lights and the railings. Albaugh Masonry Stone and Tile Inc. works very well with John Mayer. He is a very involved landscape architect and has a strong desire to line up certain elements. As you can see the landscape is a big part of this project as well. The plantings almost seem bigger than life. When taking on a project like this I would make sure to be very selective with the contractor that you choose

This fireplace surround was fabricated out of huge pieces of solid marble. The owners selected the marble from Capital Stone Works out of Bridgeport MI. Albaugh Masonry Stone and Tile was then asked to do the installation for the owners. We work very well with all the guys at Capital Stone. The large mantle piece installation required five people which included the owner of Albaugh Masonry, one set of teenage twins, a very strong 200lb. man and one professional hockey player.

When a plan comes in our office from the architectural firm Young and Young Architects we hold it in high regard and value the opportunity to bid the masonry. This family owned firm produces some of the most exquisite designs. We have been fortunate enough to do several project with the Youngs even working with them on their own homes. This home is no different. It is an awesome example of a contemporary. Above that it has a Platinum Leed rating. The home owners are committed to preserving the environment and play a large role in a land conservancy group.

The veneer stone is Valders buff split face and the paving is Valders buff again with a sandblast finish. Albaugh Masonry installed all stone on this project.

This stately Fireplace is the focal point of a large living room. Albaugh Masonry Stone and Tile Inc. installed this cast stone fireplace in the Ann Arbor area. It took a large group to lift all the pieces in place by hand. The fine detail on the fire place adds a lot to the room and the rest of the fine craftsmanship around the home. The pieces were so large that it required us to install wire back to the substrate to hold all the stone in place. The end result is a very ornate feature.

This project that was recently completed in Birmingham, Michigan was designed by Michael J. Dul and Associates. Our long lasting relationship with this designer gives us the flexibility to expand each others creativity. The award winning design firm allowed us to introduce the bluestone at the wall and firepit. This was a great fit as it complements the patio and step treads. The patio is comprised of 24″ x 36″ pieces of full range color natural cleft bluestone. The wall is built using irregular bluestone laid with the natural split edge out. This adds a tremendous amount of interest to the project. The treads were 2″ thick thermal select bluestone.

The owner was thrilled with the product as well as the schedule as it was completed in about two weeks time.

This fireplace was adapted to fit the wall that existed prior to this fireplace being built. The wall was cut out in the middle then a footing was installed in the back to give a good foundation for the new fireplace structure. Then the right and left sides were raised in order to create the pillars and a place to eventually install lights. The design was done by James C. Scott and Associates. The stone is Michigan split stone and the caps are Indiana limestone. A gas line was installed so that a gas log set could be selected and the fire could be started remotely. Albaugh Masonry Stone and Tile Inc. was able to take care of the whole project including demolition, concrete foundation, stone masonry,installing electrical conduits, and drilling the hole for the gas line. That made a smooth project for the owner with a seamless schedule.

This fireplace was designed by Emily Fronck from Aguafina. The Michigan field stone was arranged within the stucco to give it a creative arts and craft feel. The granite hearth was meant to look like it was growing out of the the stone and is precariously perched within the masonry. The added wall gives a little more privacy and gives some substance to the structure. The fireplace also has a natural gas line running to a gas log set within the fireplace. That way the owner can just turn a switch and they have a roaring fire.

Oakland University gets a new club house for the golf course. This new clubhouse restaurant is part of a new site development and grounds improvement.

Albaugh Masonry Stone and Tile Inc. is currently matching the brick on the Meadowbrook mansion with this vintage style building. It takes more than skill alone to get projects like this moving. A company needs to take the lead sort out details and keep it moving or it will not be done in time for its June 1st 2012 opening.

Greg Albaugh ran the project from the field. With a few site piers and some elevator block left to go they will not be waiting on us.

A new photo of the completed club house is added to this post. The club house was used throughout the summer of 2012 and everyone was thrilled with the addition to the beautiful Oakland University Campus.